(Image by Wilson Joseph from Pixabay)

OVER THE PAST several years, we have become familiar with stories of patients traveling hundreds or thousands of miles for abortion care because politicians have stripped away access in their home states. As a physician who offers second- and third-trimester abortion care in Maryland, where abortion is legal throughout pregnancy, I expect to see several patients each month from states like Texas or Louisiana.

What surprises people is how often I see patients from Massachusetts.

Massachusetts has earned its reputation as a leader in reproductive freedom. It has passed landmark protections for abortion access and telehealth shield laws that have become a model for the nation. Yet, despite those achievements, I continue to care for Massachusetts patients forced to leave their home state for abortion care later in pregnancy, as the Commonwealth still restricts care after 24 weeks.

By the time these patients arrive in my clinic, they have already endured some of the hardest moments of their lives. Many are carrying deeply wanted pregnancies and have just received devastating fetal diagnoses. Others are facing serious pregnancy complications or changes in their own health. Some are parents trying to make the best decision for themselves and the families they already have. Every patient’s circumstances are different, but they all have one thing in common: They never imagined they would have to leave Massachusetts to receive medical care.

The need for abortion clinics like mine is only continuing to grow. As more states across the country ban or restrict abortion, patients are being forced to wait longer and longer to obtain the care they need. There are only a handful of clinics nationally providing this level of specialized care later in pregnancy, and every week we see the strain on patients, providers, and clinic staff alike.

When Massachusetts patients must travel to us because clinicians in their own state cannot provide the care they need, they join that same queue as patients from states with more extreme bans and restrictions. They compete for the same limited appointments as patients fleeing total abortion bans. That means longer waits, more logistical hurdles, and additional pressure on a system already stretched to its limits.

Now, more than four years post-Dobbs, it’s time for other protected states to step up and pass laws to make this care accessible. Massachusetts has an opportunity to do that and to serve as a safe haven for patients in New England.

Last week, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed the Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act, which would allow physicians to provide abortion care after 24 weeks based on the physician’s clinical expertise and professional judgment, rather than forcing patients to leave the Commonwealth to access care elsewhere. It would allow patients to stay close to their support systems and continue receiving care from clinicians they know and trust.

This was deeply important progress from the House, recognizing that health care decisions should remain between a patient and their doctor, without political interference. Now, I am hopeful that the Senate will take up the bill and ensure its passage before the Massachusetts legislative session ends on Friday.

I trust my patients—and Massachusetts legislators should, too. Removing gestational bans in Massachusetts and allowing patients to make their own health care decisions would help ensure that no more families are forced to cross state lines to receive compassionate care.

The Commonwealth has long been a leader in protecting reproductive freedom. Now it has the chance to ensure its laws fully reflect that commitment.

Diane Horvarth is an OB/GYN physician and co-founder of Partners in Abortion Care in College Park, Maryland.